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Seven Awarded for Excellence

November 24, 2023

Dedication, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to advancing the university’s mission were recognized once again as seven faculty and staff of The UWI Cave Hill Campus received the 2023 Principal’s Award for Excellence. This year’s recipients were selected for their outstanding service to the University or wider community during the Annual Retirees and Long Service Awards Ceremony held on November 18, 2023.
Prolific researchers, Dr. Henri Vallès and Dr. Mahalia Jackman received the award for Outstanding Research Accomplishment (Academic). Recognition in the Senior Administrative/Professional category went to Mrs. Tanya Martelly from the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre (GA-CDRC). Dr Heather Harewood from the Department of Preclinical and Health Studies in the Faculty of Medical Sciences was acclaimed for Outstanding Teaching, while commendation for Outstanding Contribution in two or more categories (Research, and Public Service) went to Dr. Nadini Persaud, Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences with responsibility for Research and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Ms Lisa-Ann Rollins of the Office of the Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology and Mr. Devon Slater, general worker assigned to the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences were awarded in the Administrative, Technical and Service Staff (ATS) category.
Dr. Henri Vallès was hailed during the ceremony for his work which continues to put The UWI on the map for excellent marine research across a very broad range of topics highly applicable to Barbados and the wider Caribbean. His areas of expertise include: Management and Innovation in Small-scale Fisheries; Marine and Coastal Biodiversity. He also has a strong interest in terrestrial biodiversity and in the promotion and recognition of Caribbean scientists. He has published widely with some 34 papers in highly regarded international peer-reviewed journals and books.
 
Dr. Mahalia Jackman, Head, Department of Economics was also recognized for her remarkable research output which spans a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to Barbados and the global community.  During the last five years, she has published 15 pieces of work – 12 refereed journal articles and 3 monographs – while juggling a full teaching load and serving as Head her department and various university committees.  Dr. Jackman’s multifaceted approach ensures that her work remains relevant to a diverse audience.  She is easily classified as a well‐rounded researcher whose tentacles envelop the academic, policy and practical domains.  She epitomises the pinnacle of research brilliance and contribution for which The UWI is renowned.
 
The lone recipient of the award under the Senior Administrative/Professional Staff was Research Manager at the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre (GA-CDRC), Mrs. Tanya Martelly. She is credited for the development of a research management infrastructure for the Unit. Her passion for research and risk management has seen her manage multi-million-dollar budgets by providing customized expertise, untiring determination to addressing the ever-stressful currency fluctuations and demanding project financial reports. She is also known to repeatedly go beyond the call of duty to assist her colleagues and assisting both undergraduate and graduate students through teaching, management of their research awards, and provision of advice on the research process.
Fellow medical sciences colleague Dr. Heather Harewood was also a recipient of the Principal’s Award for Excellence during the ceremony. She joined the Faculty of Medical Sciences in 2015, assumed leadership of the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme in 2016 and subsequently became Head of the Public Health group in 2019. Dr. Harewood, a reflective practitioner, delights in co-creating knowledge with her students, being a good listener and advisor, and supporting them to present their work at local, regional and international fora.  Her colleagues affirm how much students enjoy and learn from her courses. Her students cite her supportive “guide by the side” approach to teaching and her focus on their all-around academic and personal development.
Dr. Nadini Persaud proudly received her award for excellence in two categories: research and public service. She has over 15 years of experience teaching primarily at the graduate level, contributing to graduate program development, serving as Program Coordinator for the M.Sc. Project Management and Evaluation program (2009-2016), and supervising dozens of evaluation practicums. Her university service spans across numerous departmental, faculty, university, and cross-campus committees including non-professorial representative on Academic Board, member of the campus committee on examinations, and member of the campus library committee. Dr. Persaud is actively involved in public and professional service in her substantive disciplines at both the regional and international levels.  Dr. Persaud is the sole author of a referee evaluation book (in press), along with three co-authored referee books on evaluation. Her body of work is focused on promoting and encouraging the use of evaluation in the region, and on incorporating cost analysis into professional evaluations. She has presented over 25 refereed conference papers on evaluation and has been a panelist on several Caribbean/Latin America panels during global evaluation week over the last few years.  
As one of the two recipients in the Administrative, Technical and Service Staff category for excellence, Ms. Lisa-Ann Rollins was heralded for her positive attitude, robust work ethic, and her eagerness to contribute to the success of both the Faculty of Science and Technology and the campus. Ms. Rollins took up the role of Administrative Assistant (Projects and Planning) in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) in 2017, after decades of previous experience in both CERMES and the Maintenance Department. Her expertise spans various domains, with notable accomplishments in project management, event planning, and website and social media management. In the realm of Project Management, Ms. Rollins consistently demonstrates exceptional skills, navigating complex tasks with precision. Her meticulous attention to detail, strategic thinking, and effective communication have been pivotal in executing numerous successful events within the faculty.  However, event planning is where Lisa-Ann's natural talent shines. Whether orchestrating large-scale conferences, workshops, or intimate gatherings, she approaches each event with meticulous planning and an unwavering commitment to detail.
 
Rounding out the group of awardees is Mr. Devon Slater, recognized by many colleagues and students as one who was always destined to rise to the top through a combination of hard work, curiosity, pride and willingness to serve. The talented worker often goes beyond the call of his gardening duties. He teaches practical skills to students so that they can achieve success in their experiments.  Relatedly, Devon is also a master grower of pineapples and passes on plant cultivation/growth concepts to the youth through workshops and visits to his farm by St. Silas Primary and St. Leonards Boys Secondary Schools, which were highlighted in the media.
Devon is an integral part of the department’s ‘Rent-a-Plant’ initiative which seeks to generate income. He was also instrumental in the establishment of a bioreactor in the department which supported the ‘Grass-to-Gas’ project, generating biogas from the grass clippings on campus thereby reducing the cost of LPG by using the biogas to power the Bunsen Burners in the biology laboratories. In addition, Devon took responsibility of caring for imported lab rats, ensuring that they received adequate food and water and that their cages were cleaned allowing a medical graduate student to successfully complete her experimental work. He was hailed as a colleague who has made the most of what was given to him and always looked to better himself and those around him – staff and especially the students.
Approximately 113 employees were recognized for their long service to the campus, in categories ranging from 15-45 years, while the University bade farewell to 31 who retired from the institution

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